A Wider View
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Over the past few years, TV Showhomes has had the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of New Zealand, picking up ideas and gathering inspiration from a number of creative and motivated new home owners, builders and architects. So at a time when many of you will be scouring the various Home Shows looking for fresh thinking and new design directions, we thought it timely to share some of our insights.
One of the key trends we've observed in recent times has been a return to New Zealand's ancestral roots as far as design and architecture are concerned. No longer are people simply choosing to uplift the design signatures of some far-off country and transplant them here willy-nilly. Instead, they are opting for homes that have a quintessentially New Zealand feel to them, houses that work with our unique environmental conditions in a thoroughly intelligent and sensitive way. Fraser Gillies, Vice President of Architectural Designers New Zealand, welcomes this shift in consumer outlook with open arms. “New Zealand architecture, as we know it, has only been in existence for a comparatively short time. So it doesn't make much sense to walk away from what has served us so well in favour of some Tuscan/Mexican/Floridian cast-off. Our ancestors knew what they were doing when they built their original dwellings and it's heartening that we're starting to see the return of a distinctly Kiwi accent in today's architecture.” It's clear that the new homeowner is a far more architecturally-savvy individual than in the past. They have a definite idea of what they do and don't want and what works here. Much of this new awareness has been driven by the vast number of magazines and television programmes devoted to homes and home improvement. Innovative new products like Linea® Weatherboard have helped give this sea change added momentum by opening up the range of options to consumers. We've seen Linea Weatherboard used on its own and in composite designs with natural stone tiles, masonry and other James Hardie products such as Titan® Façade Panel.
Quality time Terry Duff of leading South Island architects Hawthorne Duff feels that many of the changes that are evident are as a result of a simple desire to minimise the need for ongoing maintenance. “People are already time-poor enough, so to build a home that needs constant upkeep and care means encroaching even further on the little free time most of us have,” he says. “Many of the clients we work with are looking for interesting textures, using a combination of highly durable materials like Linea Weatherboard. They want to make strong visual statements within the framework of quite simple physical designs. Really, it's all about letting the building speak for itself.” Amplifying the effect of natural light is another notable trend, as is the widespread acceptance of open plan designs as the preferred mode of living. There's a discernable move away from curtaining towards the use of add-ons such as louvres and wider eaves to provide shading. Separate areas, like dining rooms, are also being dispensed with in favour of more relaxed and informal layouts. It's a client-led change that Terry Duff wholly embraces. “Again, it's related to time – quality time. The prevailing view is that the more time a family spends together the better. And who could argue with that? Aside from open floor plans, we're also being asked to incorporate computer work stations in close proximity to kitchens and living areas, so that the younger and older members of the household are able to interact more freely.”
The oft-quoted requirement for seamless indoor/outdoor flow is also proving important. According to Fraser Gillies it's a symptom of the social way in which many of us now live. “We Kiwis are a pretty informal bunch and, by and large, we hate being cooped up inside. I do everything I can to blur the line between the exterior and interior so that, particularly during the summer months, that sense of outdoorsy freedom is enhanced.” Entertaining spaces, both outdoors and indoors, are also tying up a greater proportion of the overall building budget. As Fraser puts it, the unashamed pursuit of “Now Factor/Wow Factor” is leading many new homeowners to demand much more of the standard amenities in their properties. It's clear that our homes are no longer merely places of humble shelter. They're showpieces that speak volumes about who we are. So by all means, if there's a Home Show in your area pay a visit, soak up the ideas and start on the road to making your dream home a reality. Chances are we'll be there ourselves. Remember though, that, whenever you need it, real inspiration and relevant advice is only a click away at TV Showhomes.
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